Surgical buttress reload and tip attachment assemblies for surgical stapling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A surgical stapling apparatus includes a handle assembly, an elongate tubular body, a loading unit including an anvil assembly and a staple cartridge assembly, and a reload assembly. The reload assembly includes a staple cartridge releasably disposed within the staple cartridge assembly of the loading unit, a cartridge buttress releasably secured to the staple cartridge, and an anvil buttress including a proximal portion releasably secured to the staple cartridge and a distal portion releasably coupled to the anvil assembly of the loading unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/088,649, filed Nov. 4, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/037,367, filed Jul. 17, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,945,733, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/549,226, filed Aug. 23, 2017, the entire disclosure of each of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to surgical stapling apparatus, and more particularly, to reinforced reload attachment assemblies for releasably securing surgical buttresses to surgical stapling apparatus and/or modifying the tip configuration of the surgical stapling apparatus.

Background of Related Art

Surgical stapling apparatus are employed by surgeons to sequentially or simultaneously apply one or more rows of fasteners, e.g., staples or two-part fasteners, to body tissue for the purpose of joining segments of the body tissue together. Such apparatus generally include a pair of jaws or finger-like structures between which the body tissue to be joined is placed. When the surgical stapling apparatus is actuated, or “fired”, longitudinally moving firing bars contact staple drive members in one of the jaws. The staple drive members push the surgical staples through the body tissue and into an anvil in the opposite jaw which forms the staples. If body tissue is to be removed or separated, a knife blade can be provided in one of the jaws of the apparatus to cut the body tissue between the lines of staples.

Linear surgical stapling devices are commonly used during surgical procedures to simultaneously seal and cut target tissue, e.g., vasculature, organs, etc. It is not uncommon during such procedures that other tissue, e.g., vasculature or other adherent, connective, or joined tissue, must first be separated from the target tissue before the procedure can continue. Typically, a separate surgical device is used to dissect or separate the other tissue from the target tissue before the target tissue and/or the other tissue is operated upon.

Surgical supports, e.g., meshes or buttress materials, may be used in combination with surgical stapling apparatus to bridge, repair, and/or reinforce tissue defects within a patient such as those occurring, for example, in the abdominal wall, chest wall, diaphragm, or musculo-aponeurotic areas of the body. The surgical support reinforces the staple line as well as covers the juncture of the tissues to reduce leakage prior to healing.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a surgical stapling apparatus that can be used to not only staple and cut tissue but also to separate and dissect tissue and/or to reinforce and seal the staple line.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical stapling apparatus includes a handle assembly, an elongate tubular body, a loading unit including an anvil assembly and a staple cartridge assembly, and a reload assembly. The reload assembly includes a staple cartridge releasably disposed within the staple cartridge assembly of the loading unit, a cartridge buttress releasably secured to the staple cartridge, and an anvil buttress including a proximal portion releasably secured to the staple cartridge and a distal portion releasably coupled to the anvil assembly of the loading unit.

The proximal portion of the anvil buttress may be releasably secured to a trailing portion of the staple cartridge. The trailing portion of the staple cartridge may be disposed proximally of a tissue facing surface of the staple cartridge. Proximal and distal portions of the cartridge buttress may be releasably secured to the tissue facing surface of the staple cartridge.

The reload assembly may further include an anvil adapter releasably engaged with a distal portion of the anvil assembly. In embodiments, the distal portion of the anvil buttress is releasably secured to the anvil adapter. In some embodiments, the reload assembly further includes a retention member releasably securing the distal portion of the anvil buttress to the anvil adapter, and an anvil knife configured to cut the retention member and release the anvil buttress from the anvil adapter.

The anvil adapter may include a button extending therefrom, the button releasably engaged with an opening extending through the distal portion of the anvil assembly. The anvil adapter may include a protrusion disposed at a distal end thereof, the protrusion releasably engaged with a notch defined in a distal end of the anvil assembly. The anvil adapter may include a tip portion having a curved dissecting tip.

The reload assembly may further include a shipping wedge releasably positioned between the cartridge and anvil buttresses.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a reload assembly for a loading unit of a surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge, a cartridge buttress releasably secured to the staple cartridge, and an anvil buttress including a proximal portion releasably secured to the staple cartridge.

The proximal portion of the anvil buttress may be releasably secured to a trailing portion of the staple cartridge. The trailing portion of the staple cartridge may be disposed proximally of a tissue facing surface of the staple cartridge. Proximal and distal portions of the cartridge buttress may be releasably secured to the tissue facing surface of the staple cartridge.

In embodiments, the reload assembly further includes an anvil adapter releasably attached to a distal portion of the anvil buttress. In some embodiments, the reload assembly further includes a retention member releasably securing the distal portion of the anvil buttress to the anvil adapter, and an anvil knife configured to cut the retention member and release the anvil buttress from the anvil adapter.

The anvil adapter may include a button extending therefrom, the button releasably engageable with an opening defined in an anvil assembly of a loading unit. The anvil adapter may include a protrusion disposed at a distal end thereof, the protrusion releasably engageable with a notch defined in an anvil assembly of a loading unit. The anvil adapter may include a tip portion having a curved dissecting tip.

The reload assembly may further include a shipping wedge releasably positioned between the cartridge and anvil buttresses.

Other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the description, drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of the present disclosure are described herein below with reference to the drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side, perspective view of a surgical stapling apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of a tool assembly of the surgical stapling apparatus of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a side, perspective view of a reload assembly for use with a loading unit of the surgical stapling apparatus of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a side, perspective view of a proximal portion of the reload assembly of FIG. 3A, with a shipping wedge of the reload assembly removed;

FIG. 3C is a side, plan view of a distal portion of a staple cartridge and a cartridge buttress of the reload assembly of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a top, perspective view of an anvil adapter, an anvil knife, and a retention member of the reload assembly of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4B is a bottom, perspective view of the anvil adapter, the anvil knife, and the retention member of the reload assembly of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C is a top, perspective view of the anvil knife of FIGS. 4A and 4B;

FIG. 4D is a top, perspective view of the anvil adapter, the anvil knife, and the retention member of the reload assembly of FIGS. 4A and 4B, shown coupled to an I-beam of a staple cartridge of the reload assembly;

FIG. 5A is a side, perspective view of the reload assembly of FIG. 3A positioned within a second jaw member of a tool assembly;

FIG. 5B is a side, perspective view of the reload assembly of FIG. 5A loaded onto a first jaw member of the tool assembly;

FIG. 5C is an enlarged view of a distal portion of the reload assembly of FIG. 5B, with an anvil plate of an anvil assembly of the first jaw member shown in phantom;

FIG. 6A is a side, cross-sectional view of a proximal portion of a tool assembly of the surgical stapling apparatus of FIG. 1 that is loaded with the reload assembly of FIG. 3A, during actuation of the surgical stapling apparatus;

FIG. 6B is a side, plan view of a distal portion of the tool assembly of FIG. 6A during actuation of the surgical stapling apparatus;

FIG. 6C is a bottom perspective view of a first jaw member of the tool assembly of FIG. 6B during actuation of the surgical stapling apparatus, with parts removed;

FIG. 7 is a side, perspective view of a tool assembly during removal of an anvil adapter therefrom;

FIG. 8A is a front, perspective view of an anvil adapter in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8B is a front, perspective view of the anvil adapter of FIG. 8A loaded onto a tool assembly of a loading unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure are now described in detail with reference to the drawing figures wherein like reference numerals identify identical or similar elements in each of the several views. Throughout this description, the term “proximal” refers to a portion of a structure, or component thereof, that is closer to a user, and the term “distal” refers to a portion of the structure, or component thereof, that is farther from the user. Directional reference terms, such as “top,” “bottom,” “side,” and the like, are intended to ease description of the embodiments and are not intended to have any limiting effect on the ultimate orientations of a structure or any parts thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , an exemplary surgical stapling apparatus or surgical stapler 1 is shown for use in stapling tissue in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The surgical stapling apparatus 1 generally includes a handle assembly 10, an elongate tubular body 20 extending distally from the handle assembly 10, and a loading unit 30 extending distally from the elongate tubular body 20. The loading unit 30 includes a housing portion 32 and a tool or jaw assembly 34 including first and second jaw members 34 a, 34 b. The first jaw member 34 a and/or the second jaw members 34 b is pivotable with respect to the housing portion 32 such that the tool assembly 34 is movable between an open position in which the first and second jaw members 34 a, 34 b are spaced apart with respect to each other, and a closed position in which the first and second jaw members 34 a, 34 b are substantially adjacent each other.

The handle assembly 10 includes a stationary handle member 12 a, a movable handle member 12 b, and a barrel portion 14. Actuation of the movable handle member 12 b applies lines of staples 60 (FIG. 2 ) to tissue captured between the first and second jaw members 34 a, 34 b of the tool assembly 34. An articulation lever 16 is mounted on the forward end of the barrel portion 14 to facilitate articulation of the tool assembly 34. A rotatable member 18 is also mounted on the forward end of the barrel portion 14, adjacent the articulation lever 16. Rotation of the rotatable member 18 relative to the barrel portion 14 rotates the elongate tubular body 20 and the loading unit 30 relative to the handle assembly 10 so as to properly orient the tool assembly 34 relative to tissue to be stapled. A pair of knobs 19 is movably positionable along the barrel portion 14. The pair of knobs 19 is advanced distally to approximate or close the first and second jaw members 34 a, 34 b of the tool assembly 34 relative to each other, and retracted proximally to unapproximate or open the first and second jaw members 34 a, 34 b of the tool assembly 34 with respect to each other.

The loading unit 30 is a disposable loading unit (“DLU”) that is releasably secured to the elongated tubular body 20 and thus, replaceable with a new loading unit 30. The loading unit 30 may be a single use loading unit (“SULU”) that is used one time and then replaced to facilitate multiples uses of the surgical stapling apparatus 1 on a patient. For example, during a surgical procedure, the surgical stapling apparatus 1 can be used to staple and cut tissue, and the entire SULU is replaced after each staple and cut operation of the surgical stapling apparatus 1. The loading unit 30 may be a multi-use loading unit (“MULU”) that is re-useable a predetermined number of times. For example, during a surgical procedure, the surgical stapling apparatus 1 can be used to staple and cut tissue, and a reload assembly 100 (see e.g., FIG. 3A) of the MULU is replaced after each staple and cut operation of the surgical stapling apparatus 1 a pre-determined number of times before the entire MULU needs to be replaced. Alternatively, the loading unit 30 may be permanently affixed to the elongated tubular body 20.

As seen in FIG. 2 , the first jaw member 34 a of the tool assembly 34 includes an anvil assembly 40 and the second jaw member 34 b of the tool assembly 34 includes a staple cartridge assembly 50. The anvil assembly 40 includes an anvil plate 42 and a cover plate 44 secured over the anvil plate 42. The anvil plate 42 has a central longitudinal slot 41 formed therein and a plurality of staple forming pockets/cavities 43 (FIG. 6C) defined in an inward or tissue facing surface thereof 46. A distal portion 42 a of the anvil plate 42 includes an opening 45 defined therethrough, and a notch 47 defined in a distal end 42 b thereof.

The staple cartridge assembly 50 includes a cartridge carrier 52 defining an elongated support channel 51 configured and dimensioned to selectively receive and support a staple cartridge 54 therein. The staple cartridge 54 may be removably and/or replaceably attached to the cartridge carrier 52 by, for example, a snap-fit connection, a detent, a latch, among other types of connectors within the purview of those skilled in the art. The staple cartridge 54 includes a support plate 53 and a cartridge body 56 having an inward or tissue facing surface 58 defining staple pockets or retention slots 55 formed therein for receiving a plurality of fasteners or staples 60 and staple pushers 62. A central longitudinal slot 57 is formed in and extends along a substantial length of the cartridge body 56 to facilitate passage of a knife blade 68 therethrough.

The knife blade 68 is defined in a distal edge of a central wall portion 70 a of an I-beam 70 that is operatively associated with the tool assembly 34. The central wall portion 70 a of the I-beam 70 is slidably disposed between the anvil and staple cartridge assemblies 40, 50, with upper and lower rails 70 b, 70 c of the I-beam 70, respectively, supported in the anvil and staple cartridge assemblies 40, 50. The I-beam 70 is coupled to an elongated drive beam 72 (FIG. 6C) which is configured to engage a drive member (not shown) of the elongated tubular body 20 (FIG. 1 ) of the surgical stapling apparatus 1 when the loading unit 30 is engaged therewith. The drive member imparts axial movement to the elongated drive beam 72 and thus, the I-beam 70, from the handle assembly 10. Accordingly, during operation of the surgical stapling apparatus 1, distal advancement of the I-beam 70 causes an actuation sled 64 to translate through the staple cartridge 54 and to advance cam wedges 66 of the actuation sled 64 into sequential contact with the staple pushers 62 which, in turn, cause the staple pushers 62 to translate vertically within the staple pockets 55 and urge the staples 60 from the staple pockets 55 towards the tissue facing surface 46 of the anvil plate 42 of the anvil assembly 40.

For a detailed description of the structure and function of exemplary surgical stapling apparatus, reference may be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,241,139, 6,330,965, and 7,819,896, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. It should be appreciated that principles of the present disclosure are equally applicable to surgical stapling apparatus having other configurations such as, for example, the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,964,394, 7,128,253, and 7,334,717, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. Accordingly, it should be understood that a variety of surgical stapling apparatus may be utilized with the reinforced reloads and/or tip attachment assemblies of the present disclosure. For example, laparoscopic or open staplers, such as, for example, GIA™, Endo GIA™, TA™, and Endo TA™ staplers and/or linear and radial reloads with, for example, Tri-Staple™ technology, available through Medtronic (North Haven, Conn.) may be utilized with the surgical buttress reloads and/or tip attachment assemblies of the present disclosure.

With reference now to FIGS. 3A-3C, a reload assembly 100 for use with the loading unit 30 (FIG. 1 ) is shown. The reload assembly 100 may be pre-loaded (e.g., by the manufacturer) onto the loading unit 30, and/or additional or replacement reload assemblies 100 may be secured to the loading unit 30, as needed or desired. The reload assembly 100 includes a staple cartridge 54, as well as surgical buttresses 110, 120, a plurality of retention members 130 a-130 d, an anvil adapter 140, an anvil knife 150, and a shipping wedge 160.

The surgical buttresses 110, 120 (also referred to herein as cartridge and anvil buttresses 110, 120) are fabricated from biocompatible materials which are bioabsorbable or non-absorbable, natural or synthetic materials. It should be understood that any combination of natural, synthetic, bioabsorbable, and/or non-bioabsorbable materials may be used to form the surgical buttresses 110, 120. The surgical buttresses 110, 120 may be formed from the same material or different materials.

The surgical buttresses 110, 120 may be porous, non-porous, or combinations thereof. Suitable porous structures include, for example, fibrous structures (e.g., knitted structures, woven structures, and non-woven structures) and/or foams (e.g., open or closed cell foams). Suitable non-porous structures include, for example, films. The surgical buttresses 110, 120 described herein may be a single porous or non-porous layer, or include a plurality of layers including any combination of porous and non-porous layers. For example, a surgical buttress may include multiple porous and non-porous layers that are stacked in an alternating manner. In another example, a surgical buttress may be formed in a “sandwich-like” manner wherein the outer layers of the surgical buttress are porous and the inner layer(s) are non-porous, or vice versa. The surgical buttresses 110, 120 may have the same or a different structure of layer(s).

Porous layer(s) in a surgical buttress may enhance the ability of the surgical buttress to absorb fluid, reduce bleeding, and seal a wound. Also, the porous layer(s) may allow for tissue ingrowth to fix the surgical buttress in place. Non-porous layer(s) in a surgical buttress may enhance the ability of the surgical buttress to resist tears and perforations during the manufacturing, shipping, handling, and stapling processes. Also, non-porous layer(s) may retard or prevent tissue ingrowth from surrounding tissues thereby acting as an adhesion barrier and preventing the formation of unwanted scar tissue.

The plurality of retention members 130 a-d (also referred to herein as first, second, third, and fourth retention members 130 a-130 d) are fabricated from biocompatible materials which are any combination of natural, synthetic, bioabsorbable, and/or non-bioabsorbable materials. Each of the retention members 130 a-130 d is a single continuous elongated structure, and may be in the form of a suture, thread, filament, tether, strap, band, line, wire, cable, etc.

With continued reference to FIGS. 3A-3C, the cartridge buttress 110 includes a body portion 112 configured and dimensioned to overlie the tissue facing surface 58 of the staple cartridge 54, and to be releasably secured thereto via the first and second retention members 130 a, 130 b. The staple cartridge 54 includes a first pair of recesses 59 a formed in opposed side edges of a proximal portion 54 a of the staple cartridge 54, and a second pair of recesses 59 b formed in opposed side edges of a distal portion 54 b of the staple cartridge 54. The first and second pairs of recesses 59 a, 59 b may have a circular or non-circular configuration dimensioned to retain portions of the respective first and second retention members 130 a, 130 b therein (e.g., frictionally engaging, pinching, or otherwise constricting the first and second retention members 130 a, 130 b) to maintain placement of the first and second retention members 130 a, 130 b across respective proximal and distal portions 110 a, 110 b of the cartridge buttress 110. Alternatively, the first and second retention members 130 a, 130 b may be secured to the staple cartridge 54 via other attachment features or methods, such as chemical attachment features (e.g., adhesives), mechanical attachment features (e.g., mounting structures such as tabs or pins), and/or attachment methods (e.g., welding), to releasably secure the cartridge buttress 110 to the staple cartridge 54.

The anvil buttress 120 includes a body portion 122 configured and dimensioned to overlie the tissue facing surface 46 (FIG. 6C) of the anvil assembly 40, and a tail portion 124 extending proximally from the body portion 122. While the tail portion 124 is shown as a loop of buttress material, other configurations are envisioned. The tail portion 124 of the anvil buttress 120 is releasably secured to the staple cartridge 54 via the third retention member 130 c, and a distal end portion of the body portion 122 of the anvil buttress 120 is releasably secured to the anvil adapter 140 via the fourth retention member 130 d (when the staple cartridge 54 is loaded into the cartridge carrier 52 of the staple cartridge assembly 50). It is further envisioned that tail portion 124 of the anvil buttress 120 may be connected to or integral with the cartridge buttress 110.

The staple cartridge 54 includes a third pair of recesses 59 c formed in opposed side edges of a trailing portion 54 c of the staple cartridge 54, which is disposed proximally of the tissue facing surface 58 of the staple cartridge 54. The tail portion 124 of the anvil buttress 120 is configured and dimensioned to overlie the trailing portion 54 c of the staple cartridge 54 and is releasably attached thereto via the third retention member 130 c which is retained within the third pair of recesses 59 c and extends across the tail portion 124 of the anvil buttress 120 and a path of the knife blade 68 (FIG. 2 ). As the tail portion 124 of the anvil buttress 120 is releasably secured to the trailing portion 56 c of the staple cartridge 54, the tool assembly 34 (FIG. 1 ) may open, close, and otherwise function (e.g., grasp and/or staple tissue) without putting stress on the third retention member 130 c. Thus, the attachment configuration, of the proximal portion 120 a of the anvil buttress 120 to the staple cartridge 54, does not interfere with the function of the tool assembly 34 when the anvil buttress 120 is loaded onto the anvil assembly 40.

A distal portion 120 b of the anvil buttress 120 is releasably secured to the anvil adapter 140 via the fourth retention member 130 d. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the anvil adapter 140 includes a body portion 142 sized and shaped to correspond with a proximal portion 40 a (FIG. 6C) of the anvil assembly 40 such that an anvil facing surface 142 a of the body portion 142 abuts the proximal portion 40 a of the anvil assembly 40 and a tissue facing surface 142 b of the anvil adapter 40 acts as an extension of the tissue facing surface 46 (FIG. 6C) of the anvil assembly 40. The anvil adapter 140 includes a pair of recesses 143 a formed in opposed side edges of the body portion 142, and a pair of elongated openings 143 b defined through the body portion 142 between the pair of recesses 143 a.

As shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D, in conjunction with FIGS. 4A and 4B, the anvil knife 150 is coupled to the anvil adapter 140 and configured to cut the fourth retention member 130 d upon actuation of the surgical stapling apparatus 1. The anvil knife 150 includes an elongated rod 152 having a proximal end 152 a operatively engageable with the I-beam 70 of the staple cartridge 54 (FIG. 2 ), and a curved plate 154 extending distally from the elongated rod 152. The curved plate 154 has a plate body 154 a and a pair of wings 154 b extending upwardly from the plate body 154 a, with at least one wing 154 b having a recess 155 defined therein that includes an anvil knife blade 156 defined in an inner edge thereof.

The elongated rod 152 and the plate body 154 a of the anvil knife 150 are positionable within a recess 145 defined in the tissue facing surface 142 b of the anvil adapter 140 such that the pair of wings 154 b of the anvil knife 150 project into the pair of elongated openings 143 b of the anvil adapter 140. The anvil knife 150 is longitudinal movable relative to the anvil adapter 140 between proximal and distal positions within the confines of the recess 145 and the elongated openings 143 b of the anvil adapter 140.

The fourth retention member 130 d is threaded through the pair of recesses 143 a of the anvil adapter 140 such that a portion of the fourth retention member 130 d crosses the tissue facing surface 142 b of the anvil adapter 140 and the plate body 154 a of the anvil knife 150 (see e.g., FIG. 4B), and a portion of the fourth retention member 130 d crosses through the recess 155 of the anvil knife 150 (see e.g., FIG. 4D).

The anvil adapter 140 further includes a button 146 extending outwardly from the anvil facing surface 142 b of the body portion 142. The button 146 is configured to releasably engage the opening 45 (FIG. 2 ) of the anvil assembly 40. The button 146 includes a shank 146 a and an enlarged head 146 b extending from the shank 146 a. A channel 147 is defined in the button 146 such that portions of the button 146 on opposed sides of the channel 147 may flex relative to each other. The anvil adapter 140 further includes a protrusion 148 disposed at a distal end thereof that is configured to releasably engage the notch 47 (FIG. 2 ) of the anvil assembly 40 and aid in maintaining alignment of the anvil adapter 140 with the anvil assembly 40.

With reference again to FIG. 3A, the shipping wedge 160 includes a generally elongate rectangular base 162 positionable between the surgical buttresses 110, 120, and detachably securable between the first and second jaw members 34 a, 34 b (FIG. 1 ) of the tool assembly 34. Components of the reload assembly 100 (e.g., surgical buttresses 110, 120, anvil adapter 140, etc.) may be releasably secured to the shipping wedge 160 to aid in loading/reloading the tool assembly 34. The shipping wedge 160 includes a proximal end 160 a (FIG. 7 ) configured and dimensioned to prevent movement of the knife blade 68 (FIG. 2 ) while the shipping wedge 160 is installed on the tool assembly 34 (e.g., during shipment and/or prior to use), and a distal end 160 b that is complementary in shape with the enlarged head 146 b of the button 146 of the anvil adapter 140 to facilitate the release and removal of the anvil adapter 140 from the anvil assembly 40.

In a method of loading the reload assembly 100 onto the loading unit 30, as shown, for example, in FIG. 5A, with the loading unit 30 in the open position, the staple cartridge 54 is positioned within the carrier 52 of the second jaw member 34 b of the tool assembly 34. As shown in FIG. 5B, the loading unit 30 is moved to the closed position such that the first and second jaw members 34 a, 34 b are approximated with respect to each other. As specifically shown in FIG. 5C, in conjunction with FIG. 5B, the button 146 and the latch 158 of the anvil adapter 140 engage the anvil assembly 40 such that when the tool assembly 34 is re-opened, the anvil buttress 120 is retained against the anvil assembly 40. The loading unit 30 is thus loaded and ready for use, upon removal of the shipping wedge 160 therefrom.

In operation, with the reload assembly 100 loaded onto the loading unit 30, as described above, and the shipping wedge 160 removed therefrom, the surgical stapling apparatus 1 is used in accordance with methods known by those skilled in the art. Once the anvil and staple cartridge assemblies 40, 50 are clamped onto tissue, the surgical stapling apparatus 1 is fired. In firing the surgical stapling apparatus 1, the drive beam 72 is advanced distally through the tool assembly 34 urging the staple pushers 62 upwardly which, in turn, drive the staples 60 out of the staple pockets 55 of the staple cartridge 54 and through the surgical buttresses 110, 120 as well as the captured tissue, thereby stapling the surgical buttresses 110, 120 to the tissue. The knife blade 68 substantially simultaneously cuts and divides the tissue and the surgical buttresses 110, 120 disposed between the rows of now formed staples 60.

During firing, as shown in FIG. 6A, the knife blade 68 of the I-beam 70 travels distally through the tool assembly 34. As the first and third retention members 130 a, 130 c extend across the respective proximal portions 110 a, 120 a of the cartridge and anvil buttresses 110, 120 above the respective central longitudinal slots 57, 41 (FIG. 2 ) of the staple cartridge and anvil assemblies 50, 40, the knife blade 68 also cuts through the third retention member 130 c and then the first retention member 130 a thereby freeing the proximal portions 120 a, 110 a of the anvil and cartridge buttresses 120, 110 from the anvil and staple cartridge assemblies 40, 50.

As the knife blade 68 continues to travel distally, as shown in FIG. 6B, to divide the cartridge buttress 120 longitudinally along a length thereof. As the knife blade 68 approaches the distal ends of the anvil and the cartridge assemblies 40, 50, the knife blade 68 cuts the second retention member 130 b, which extends across the distal portion 110 b of the cartridge buttress 110 above the central longitudinal slot 57 (FIG. 2 ) of the staple cartridge assembly 50, thereby releasing the distal portion 110 b of the cartridge buttress 110 from the staple cartridge assembly 50. As shown in FIG. 6C, in conjunction with FIG. 6B, continued distal movement of the I-beam 70 causes the I-beam 70 to contact the elongated rod 152 of the anvil knife 150 and to move the anvil knife 150 distally which, in turn, cuts the fourth retention member 130 d thereby releasing the distal portion 120 b of the anvil buttress 120 from the anvil assembly 40.

When firing is complete and the anvil and staple cartridge assemblies 40, 50 are unclamped, the anvil and cartridge buttresses 120, 110, which are now stapled to the tissue, pull away from the anvil and staple cartridge assemblies 40, 50, and the tool assembly 34 is removed from the surgical site. The used reload assembly 100 may then be removed from the tool assembly 34 by removing the staple cartridge 54 from the staple cartridge assembly 50 and the anvil adapter 140 from the anvil assembly 40.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the anvil adapter 140 may be removed from the anvil assembly 40 by inserting the distal end 160 b of the shipping wedge 160 into the opening 45 of the anvil assembly 40 such that the distal end 160 b of the shipping wedge 160 engages the enlarged head 146 b of the button 146 of the anvil adapter 140. The distal end 160 b of the shipping wedge 160 includes a cylindrical body 164 defining an opening 165 therein that is configured to engage and squeeze the enlarged head 146 b of the button 146 of the anvil adapter 140 and to push the button 146 out of the opening 45, thereby releasing the anvil adapter 140 from the anvil assembly 40. A new reload assembly 100 may be loaded onto the loading unit 30, as described above.

An anvil adapter 240 in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The anvil adapter 240 includes a body portion 242 configured and dimensioned to engage a distal portion 40 b of the anvil assembly 40. The body portion 242 of the anvil adapter 240 includes a button 244, as described above with regard to button 146 of anvil adapter 140, for releasably engaging the opening 45 of the anvil assembly 40, and a protrusion 246 for maintaining alignment of the anvil adapter 240 with the anvil assembly 40.

The anvil adapter 240 further includes a tip portion 248 configured and dimensioned to provide the loading unit 30 with a curved tip to enhance visualization and/or maneuverability of the tool assembly 34 around target tissue and/or vessels. The tip portion 248 of the anvil adapter 240 may aid in tissue manipulation, allowing for blunt tissue dissection and/or mobilization. Other configurations of the tip portion 248 are envisioned depending upon, for example, the desired characteristics of the tool assembly 34 as should be understood by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it should be understood that a clinician can customize a loading unit to have a desired configuration for a particular surgical procedure and/or patient. It should be further understood that the reload assembly 100 may be used with anvil adapters having a variety of configurations. For example, the anvil adapter 140 of the reload assembly 100 may be modified to include the tip portion 248 of the anvil adapter 240. Accordingly, a variety of combinations of the components of the reloads and/or anvil adapters are envisioned.

It should be further understood that while the reload assembly 100 is shown including both cartridge and anvil buttresses 110, 120, the reload assembly 100 may include only the cartridge buttress or the anvil buttress 120 depending on, for example, the surgical application and/or the desired placement of the buttress material relative to tissue as should be understood by those skilled in the art.

The surgical buttress reloads and tip attachment assemblies described herein may also be configured for use with other surgical apparatus, such as electromechanical surgical devices as described, for example, in U.S. Patent Appl. Pub. Nos. 2015/0157320 and 2015/0157321, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. Furthermore, the surgical stapling instrument could be configured for use in a surgical robotic system.

In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, a removable and replaceable staple cartridge can be provided for use with a surgical reload, or a surgical stapling instrument having a jaw attached to an elongate portion, without a loading unit that has an portion removably attachable to the elongate portion of a handle. In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the surgical buttress can be made from a melt blown bioabsorbable material, such as polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, glycolide trimethylene carbonate, and polycaprolactone. The surgical buttress can include, be coated with, or otherwise deliver a bioactive material, such as a medicament, hemostat, growth factors, chemotherapy agent, or other such materials.

While the surgical stapling apparatus of the present disclosure are shown firing staples, it should be understood that the surgical stapling apparatus may be adapted to fire other fasteners, such as clips, two-part fasteners, among other suitable fasteners within the purview of those skilled in the art.

Persons skilled in the art will understand that the systems, devices, and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying figures are non-limiting exemplary embodiments, and that the description, disclosure, and figures should be construed merely exemplary of particular embodiments. It is to be understood, therefore, that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise embodiments described, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. Additionally, it is envisioned that the elements and features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the elements and features of another exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, and that such modifications and variations are also intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the subject matter of the present disclosure is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A loading unit for a surgical stapling apparatus, the loading unit comprising: an anvil assembly including a tissue facing surface and a distal end; and an anvil adapter releasably engageable with the distal end of the anvil assembly, the anvil adapter including a body portion having an anvil facing surface and a tissue facing surface, the anvil facing surface releasably positionable against the tissue facing surface of the anvil assembly such that the tissue facing surface of the anvil adapter is an extension of the tissue facing surface of the anvil assembly.
 2. The loading unit according to claim 1, wherein the anvil assembly includes an opening extending through the tissue facing surface of the anvil assembly and an outward facing surface of the anvil assembly, and the anvil adapter includes a button extending from the anvil facing surface of the body portion, the button configured to releasably engage the opening of the anvil assembly.
 3. The loading unit according to claim 2, wherein the button includes a shank and an enlarged head extending from the shank.
 4. The loading unit according to claim 3, wherein a channel is defined in the button such that portions of the button on opposed sides of the channel may flex relative to each other.
 5. The loading unit according to claim 1, wherein the anvil assembly includes a notch defined in the distal end thereof, and the anvil adapter includes a protrusion extending from a distal end thereof, the protrusion configured to releasably engage the notch.
 6. The loading unit according to claim 5, wherein the protrusion projects distally beyond the body portion of the anvil adapter.
 7. The loading unit according to claim 5, wherein the protrusion projects outwardly beyond the anvil facing surface of the anvil adapter.
 8. The loading unit according to claim 1, wherein the anvil adapter includes an elongated opening extending through the tissue facing surface of the anvil assembly and the anvil facing surface of the body portion of the anvil adapter.
 9. The loading unit of claim 8, wherein the anvil adapter includes a pair of recesses formed in opposed side edges of the body portion, the elongated opening disposed between the pair of recesses.
 10. The loading unit according to claim 8, wherein the elongated opening is one of a pair of elongated openings defined through the body portion.
 11. The loading unit according to claim 8, wherein the anvil adapter includes an anvil knife blade disposed within the elongated opening, the anvil knife blade longitudinally movable relative to the body portion of the anvil adapter between a proximal position and a distal position within the elongated opening.
 12. The loading unit according to claim 11, further including a retention member extending across the elongated opening, the retention member configured to releasably secure an anvil buttress to the anvil adapter.
 13. The loading unit according to claim 12, further including an anvil buttress having a distal portion releasably secured to the tissue facing surface of the anvil adapter by the retention member.
 14. The loading unit according to claim 13, further including: a staple cartridge assembly; and a staple cartridge releasably positionable within the staple cartridge assembly, wherein a proximal portion of the anvil buttress is releasably secured to the staple cartridge.
 15. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the anvil adapter includes a tip portion having a curved dissecting tip.
 16. A loading unit for a surgical stapling apparatus, the loading unit comprising: an anvil assembly including a tissue facing surface and a distal end; and an anvil adapter releasably engageable with the distal end of the anvil assembly, the anvil adapter including: a body portion having a tissue facing surface; and an anvil knife including a plate body positioned against the tissue facing surface of the body portion and a wing extending from the plate body into the body portion, the anvil adapter releasably engageable with the anvil assembly such that the tissue facing surface of the anvil adapter is a distal extension of the tissue facing surface of the anvil assembly.
 17. The loading unit according to claim 16, wherein the tissue facing surface of the anvil adapter defines a recess therein and the plate body is positioned within the recess.
 18. The loading unit according to claim 16, wherein the body portion of the anvil adapter defines an elongated opening therethrough and the wing extends into the elongated opening.
 19. The loading unit according to claim 16, wherein the anvil knife is longitudinally movable relative to the body portion.
 20. The loading unit according to claim 16, wherein the anvil knife further includes an elongated rod extending proximally from the plate body. 